Bell Textron lays off hundreds of Fort Worth and Texas employees

Bell Textron has laid off approximately 285 employees across its Amarillo, Fort Worth and Wichita sites, according to a letter from Bell Textron CEO Danny Maldonado.

Bell Textron is an American helicopter and aerospace manufacturer based in northeast Fort Worth near Hurst.

The letter says that these layoffs affect the members working on the MV-75 programs the most. The MV-75 is a tiltrotor aircraft being developed by Bell. The Star-Telegram reached out to Bell about the exact number of employees affected and no one responded immediately.

According to Bell’s website, “The MV‑75 strengthens every mission soldiers execute — speed and range cut medevac timelines to save lives, deliver long‑range assault forces from safer launch points, and bring agility to humanitarian operations in the toughest terrain.”

Maldonado said as the company moves from design to production, it has to make “additional adjustments to align our overall cost structure with current funding and business needs.”

Company officials shared that getting clarity from the government on the funding for this fiscal spending year showed them that layoffs were necessary to align with “current funding and budget realities.”

The CEO made it clear that these decisions were based on funding and not employee behavior.

“These decisions are not a reflection of the value of the team or the importance of the mission,” Maldonado said. “They are about ensuring we stay aligned to the program, protect long-term success, and position ourselves to deliver what matters most.”

In addition to layoffs, Bell is entering a four-week furlough period for certain staff on the MV-75 team that begins June 14. Employees affected by the furlough are expected to receive notice within the next few days, according to Maldonado.

Maldonado wrote that it’s “incredibly difficult” to watch colleagues leave who have made such an impact.

“The first flight of the MV-75 remains paramount, and long-term prospects for 2027 and beyond remain strong. This is not about stopping momentum; it is about responsibly managing our resources to ensure we can deliver on our commitments,” he said.